Surgical treatment of cardiopericardial echinococcosis

Aim: In the article there was reviewed results of diagnostic metods and surgical treatment 73 patients with echinococcosis of heart. The patients were divided on two groups depending on nature of involvement: the 1st group — it was insulated echinococcosis of heart/pericardium. The 2d group — it was combined echinococcosis of heart and other organs (lungs or liver). Basic diagnostic techniques were echocardiography and MSCT. In 75% case the patients were operated in cardiopulmonary bypass; in 25% – without cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperative mortality was 6.8%. Spontaneous perforation and anaphylactic shock were observed in 4.3% cases. Among not fatal complications there often were observed rhytm disturbances.

Material and Methods: 73 (100%) patients had an echinococcosis of the heart and underwent surgical treatment. Surgical intervention in 64.2% of cases was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass (75.0±7.6 min) and cardioplegic arrest (45.3±4.9 min) with median sternotomy.

Results: Total postoperative mortality in groups was 6.8% (5 patients). Non-fatal complications noted in 13 patients (17.8%). Heart failure was observed in 9(12.3%) patients.
Conslusion: Echinococcosis of the heart is an intracardiac infection, the treatment of which is carried out according to all the rules of purulent-septic surgery.